The Raconteurs stage partial reunion in Nashville

December 19, 2013 20:15

Jack White and Brendan Benson played 'Hands' and 'Steady As She Goes' at the Ryman

The Raconteurs staged a partial reunion last night (December 18) in Nashville.

During band member Brendan Benson's Brendan Benson & Friends benefit show for the David Lynch Foundation yesterday at The Ryman Auditorium, he was joined onstage by fellow Raconteur Jack White. The pair subsequently ran through two of The Raconteurs' tracks, 'Hands' and 'Steady As She Goes'. They also played Benson's solo song 'Good To Me', reports Stereogum. Click above to watch fan-shot footage of the pair performing 'Steady As She Goes' and scroll down for footage of 'Hands'.

Earlier this year Jack White revealed that he had recorded new material with The Dead Weather and had been hanging out with The Raconteurs. The prolific songwriter, who released his debut solo album 'Blunderbuss' in 2012, spoke to Rolling Stone about his life in Nashville, confirming that all members of his other bands were also living in the city. He commented:

"We all live in Nashville now. All The Raconteurs and all The Dead Weather live in Nashville now, so we often go on trips together, because we're all just good pals. We've recorded some things, too. And Brendan and The Raconteurs just built a new studio right in town, so it's a lot of great inspiration going around."

The Raconteurs released two albums, 2006's 'Broken Boy Soldiers' and 2008's 'Consolers of the Lonely'.

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What Else? WMG+Google, Scan-and-Match, Chuck Berry, UMG Nashville, Pandora, Savile...

Warner Music Group has finally signed a deal with Google Play, the end of a year-plus holdout specifically tied to the music vertical.  Now, millions of Google's Android users will have a far more complete catalog of MP3s to buy, including Green Day, Madonna, Neil Young, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and hundreds more.    

The deal also allows Google to launch its version of a scan-and-match feature for its music service in two weeks, first in Europe and then in the United States.  Scan-and-match will allow users to quickly upload and store their music on a Google-hosted service, then stream those songs from anywhere.

The 86-year-old Chuck Berry recently revealed that he is going to release his first studio album since 1979 -- that is, as soon as he finds a business partner. He has about six unheard songs written 16 years ago, and would love to share them with fans.

Universal Music Group Nashville announced the restructuring of its company with the integration of Capitol/EMI Records Nashville.  Former Capitol and EMI SVPs will take on much of the same responsibilities at UMG, as well as other many other management positions to ensure the best transition.

Elsewhere, Pandora has announced a slate of new features for its mobile apps, including embedded lyrics and better sharing functionality.  The upgrade brings the mobile experience closer inline with the internet-based version, and creates a more attractive mobile platform for advertisers.

And, the very messy fallout from disgraced BBC host Jimmy Savile continues.  Now, retired appeals court judge Dame Janet Smith is heading an inquiry into the circumstances that allowed Savile to sexually abuse hundreds of victims without any retribution.  Separately, Gary Glitter has been arrested in a connected probe, with a serious spotlight also spilling back onto the BBC.  Savile passed away last year at 84; this is the second BBC-commissioned investigation.

And, yes, that gig on the eastern seaboard and especially New York City has undoubtedly been canceled.  That includes Wall Street and almost every other office, public service, and institution as Gotham climbs out from an unprecedented deluge of water and associated fallout.  Please stay as safe and dry as possible; we're rooting for you New York. 

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Taylor Swift to co-host Grammy nominations in Nashville

Singer Taylor Swift performs on stage during ABC's 'Good Morning America' in New York, October 23, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson

LOS ANGELES | Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:35pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country-pop star Taylor Swift will co-host the Grammy nominations live on television from Nashville, the capital of country music, the Recording Academy said on Monday.

Swift, 22, who has won six Grammy awards, will join rapper-actor LL Cool J to announce nominees in some of the major categories during a one-hour live telecast on December 5, featuring performances from country artist Luke Bryan and pop-rockers Maroon 5.

The singer is currently on a touring blitz to promote her latest album, "Red", and has become an awards show favorite, most recently premiering her new single at the MTV Video Music Awards in September.

Swift's addition to the roster is part of the Grammy organization's celebration of country music this year, moving the nominations concert from Los Angeles to Nashville, home to the Grand Ole Opry and dozens of recording studios that have spawned artists such as Swift, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum.

Organizers began televising the nominations in a live show five years ago in a bid to boost TV viewership for the annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles in February. This year, 39.9 million viewers tuned in to see British singer Adele sweep the awards with six major wins.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Dale Hudson)

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Donna Summer Laid to Rest in Nashville

by The Associated Press  |   May 24, 2012 8:51 EDT

Family and some of her closest friends helped celebrate the life of Donna Summer at the singer's funeral.

A private memorial service was held Wednesday for Summer at Christ Presbyterian in Nashville, Tenn., where she had been a resident since 1995.

Donna Summer's Album Sales Increase 3,277% Following Death

Summer, deemed the "Queen of Disco" for hits like "I Feel Love," ''Love to Love You Baby" and "Last Dance," died May 17 of lung cancer at 63 in Naples, Fla.

Producer and close friend David Foster performed "The Prayer" with Natalie Grant. Summer's sisters, Linda Gaines Lotman, Mary Ellen Bernard, Dara Bernard and Jenette Yancey, sang "We've Come This Far By Faith."

Other guests included producer Giorgio Moroder and Tony Orlando.

Summer is survived by husband Bruce Sudano; three daughters, Brooklyn, Mimi and Amanda; and four grandchildren.

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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